POS Loyalty Programs: Square, Clover, Toast, Shopify & More

Built-in POS loyalty vs a separate tool

• Built-in (Square, Clover, Toast, Lightspeed): points are added automatically at checkout, and loyalty data sits next to your sales. They only work on that POS, and most don’t offer wallet passes, stamp cards or referrals.
• Separate tool: customers carry a card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, or a QR code, and staff stamp or scan it. More reward types and marketing, and you keep your customers if you switch POS. The trade-off is one extra scan at the counter.

Square loyalty programs

Square Loyalty: Square Loyalty is part of Square Plus at $49/mo per location. Customers enrol at the register with a phone number, and points count even on cash payments.

None of the other tools we review name a Square integration. POS-independent tools (below) work next to a Square register.

Clover loyalty programs

Clover Rewards: Clover Rewards is included in Clover’s Essentials and Growth software plans, not Starter. Customers join with a phone number or email and earn 1 point per pre-tax dollar.

None of the other tools we review name a Clover integration.

Toast loyalty programs

Toast Loyalty: Toast Loyalty is an add-on to Toast POS, priced through a Toast demo. Points are tracked with every order, in-store and through Toast Online Ordering.

None of the other tools we review name a Toast integration.

Lightspeed loyalty programs

Lightspeed Loyalty: Lightspeed Loyalty is included in every Lightspeed Retail plan, from $89/mo billed yearly. The US Lightspeed Restaurant site points to third-party loyalty integrations instead.

Kangaroo Rewards also connects to Lightspeed, among 11 platforms.

Shopify and Shopify POS loyalty programs

Smile.io: Shopify has no loyalty program of its own; stores add an app. Smile.io (free up to 200 orders a month), LoyaltyLion and Yotpo Loyalty all let customers earn in-store through Shopify POS.

Kangaroo Rewards, BonusQR and Boomerangme also connect to Shopify.

Loyalty programs that work with any POS

These tools don’t need a POS integration: the card lives on the customer’s phone and staff add stamps or points from a phone, tablet or QR code.

• Loopy Loyalty ($25/mo): Customers add the card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet from a QR code or link, and staff stamp with the Stamper App on their own phones.
• Stamp Me ($49/mo): Customers collect stamps in the Stamp Me app, a web app or an Apple or Google Wallet pass, and staff stamp with a tap device, QR codes or a merchant app.
• BonusQR (Free, then $20/mo): Customers join in one click, get a personal QR code (in the web app, the BonusQR app or Apple and Google Wallet) and staff scan it with a phone.
• FaveCard (Free, then $19/mo): Customers open the card on their phone from a QR code or link, with no app to download, and staff stamp it with the free FaveCard app on any smartphone.

Revio, our top pick, also keeps the card on the customer’s phone as an Apple or Google Wallet pass. It doesn’t integrate with any POS yet, so it runs alongside whatever till you use and points are added separately from checkout.

How to choose

1. If you are happy with your POS and only need points, turn on its built-in program first.
2. If you want stamp cards, wallet passes, tiers or referrals, pick a separate tool; see our full ranking.
3. If you might change POS in the next few years, a POS-independent tool keeps your members when you switch.

Prices for every tool are in how much a loyalty program costs.